Meat and dairy can be a great source of protein, but shouldn’t be eaten to excess. Some types of meat and dairy are much better for you than others, so it’s important to make smart choices. Here are some examples of good animal foods to include in your diet:
Meat
Avoid fatty cuts of meat and large amounts of red meat, and focus on lean meats like chicken breast. You should also always buy organic and grass-fed meat – factory-farmed animals which are fed on corn, rather than grass, produce much fattier and less nutritious meat.
Fish
Fish tends to be high in protein and low in saturated fat compared to red meat. It’s also a good source of healthy omega-3 oils. Examples of healthy types of fish are salmon, tuna,, mackerel and tilapia.
Eggs
Eggs are an excellent and convenient source of protein, and can be cooked in a huge number of ways – scrambled, fried, poached, boiled, or any way you like! If you choose a cooking method which uses fat, choose a healthy unsaturated fat like olive oil or rapeseed oil rather than a saturated fat like butter.
Dairy
In moderation, dairy foods are a great source of fat and protein, but they can be high in calories and saturated fat (especially cheese), so don’t go crazy! That said, you should always go for full-fat over low-fat dairy. It’s more satisfying and will keep you full for longer. Plus, low-fat dairy products often have sugar added to replace the fat, so they’re actually much less healthy.